A recent study from the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia noted anterior cruciate ligament and meniscus tears in children have spiked over the past 12 years, potentially leading to higher healthcare costs.

From 1999 through the start of 2011, more than 150 tibial spine fractures were dealt with, while more than 900 ACL tears and close to 1,000 meniscus injuries were documented. The rate of fractures increased by approximately one per year, while ACL injuries increased by more than 10 annually and meniscus injuries increased by nearly 15 each year.

"Many people in sports medicine have assumed that these knee injuries have increased in recent years among children," said Dr. J. Todd Lawrence, orthopaedic surgeon at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and primary investigator of this study. "Our study confirmed our hypothesis that, at least at our large academic pediatric hospital, knee injuries are an ever-growing problem for children and adolescents involved in sports."

Parents may want to ensure their children's health insurance is sufficient, especially if they play sports. If not, it may be a good idea to go online and look for affordable quotes.